Paradox [Doppelganger companion]
Title: Paradox
Fandoms: Heroes, Gilmore Girls
Author: leezh
Beta reader: karathephantom
Word Count: approx. 2600
Rating: PG-13 'coz of a little bit of curse words
Summary: Zach cannot believe he agrees to go to New York with Claire to look for a guy that she claims cannot possibly be her uncle. His name, Jess Mariano, resembles nothing like Peter Petrelli, and didn't she say that Uncle Peter had gone nuclear - or something?
Notes: It is set after 'How to Stop an Exploding Man'. A crossover with Gilmore Girls, also a companion piece (sort of sequel) to ' Doppelganger' , which I recommend to be read before proceeding with this piece. Written for fivebyfiction challenge at Livejournal, though it supposed to be Paire... I guess you can still see it that way, though now it leans more to Jess/Claire! =) As for a continuation, I include a hint of it in the fic, but to be truthful it's still in the brainstorming cabinet. =)
Disclaimer: If I did own both of these awesome shows, the Heroes universe would be fused with Gilmore Girls already.
Paradox
- New York, a week after the explosion -
He cannot believe he is doing this.
This, going to New York with Claire to look for this guy that she claims cannot possibly be her uncle. He has figured that much too, since the name, Jess Mariano, resembles nothing like Peter Petrelli, and didn't she say that Uncle Peter ( Claire calls him with simply 'Peter', but whatever ) had blown up (or gone nuclear or something ), along with his brother - Claire's bio-dad - that fateful night?
But of course he was - and still is - smart enough not to mention that depressing bit of information and chose to let himself being dragged over.
After all, he fully knows why she's doing this.
Peter Petrelli, from what he can deduce from her story and the way she told - tells - it to him, is her knight in shining armor. Peter saved her that Homecoming night, not only from Sylar (whom he understands as a psychotic killer who has - eww - brain fetish), but also from the ultimate teenagers' problem: fitting in. And the fact that the Petrelli brothers - Claire's father and uncle - were ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of New York is enough reason for Claire to desperately search for their survival.
Because heroes never die. Because she hasn't allowed her heroes to die.
"I haven't got the chance to know them well, Zach," she said to him before. "I don't even have the chance to know them at all ."
Both of them were in her hotel room that night, the same night that she told him all of her plans. New York. Jess Mariano . And it was also the same night that he had said 'yes' to her request to accompany her, wasn't it? He even gave his full cooperation to her 'farewell trip together to LA' scam, down to the part where she needed him to pass a valid permission from his parents - who obviously hadn't got a clue - to Mr. Bennet.
It is a bit odd for Mr. Bennet to let him and Claire off the hook that easily, but then, the Bennets are moving out to another state, so Zach figures that the man is just trying to make it more bearable for his Claire-Bear.
So, now, the problem remains is how to track this Mariano guy, because all they know is his name. ( And that he wears leather jacket. And converse. And he has a book sticking out of his back pocket.) Sadly though, those details on appearance don't help much if you're not mugged and in the luxury of the police department's database and face recognition software.
"He's not listed," Zach says, finally tearing his eyes out of the phonebook. The tiny print of the humungous book ( no slightest pun intended ) has burnt his eyes for the last ten minutes. "No Jess Mariano, not even a J. Mariano."
He looks at Claire who looks more anxious by the second. "Are you sure it's 'Jess Mariano'? Not 'Jake Mastriani'?
She gives him an annoyed look. "Zach, maybe I was hiding behind that wall, but I couldn't be more than a few feet away from them. I especially cannot possibly mistake his name; he practically shouted it to my Dad."
To be truthful, it was another reason - the real reason - why he is willing to participate in this trip: to prove Claire that she's wrong. He simply cannot see why a jerk like that can be her uncle.
Somebody's got to be kidding me.
"Okay," he says, giving in. There is no chance he can change her mind anyway. "So, what do we do next?"
"Why don't we go back to the coffee shop? There's always a chance of someone recognizing him."
Zach cannot help but to roll his eyes. Haven't I mentioned that I've googled him and got nothing?
~ o ~
"Do you happen to know this guy - he's one of your customers - whose name is Jess Mariano?"
The girl behind the counter - Leslie, Zach reads her name from her nametag - shows no signs of recognition. In fact, she offers no reaction, as she just plops her hands down on the counter, staring at them silently.
"Jess Mariano?" she repeats.
"Yes?"
"Never heard of him."
Zach can feel the desperation in Claire's 'Oh.'
"He's around my age," he says, trying to elaborate. "Dark hair, curly. Wears leather jacket, has book sticking out-"
"Oh," Leslie finally shows some initiative. How decent of her . "I know him . Try Washington Square Park, that's his hang out place."
"Thanks."
~ o ~
Fortunately, Washington Square Park isn't far. And more luck for Claire because she is traveling with him. She has almost dragged both of them to the opposite direction, before Zach noticed that the numbers were getting bigger (they started at the 11 th ) instead of smaller.
They divide the park in two: Claire takes the west side while Zach tackles the east. He has almost combed his part of the park without any success when he notices something.
There he is!
A few feet away from him is Peter-Petrelli-slash-Jess-Mariano. He is sitting on a bench, slumping slightly with one hand grasping an opened book while he keeps the other one in his pocket. He appears to be lost in his reading.
Zach, doesn't quite know why he does it, finds himself a few minutes later crouching down behind the bushes. Maybe he longs to be a spy (or starring in a mediocre spy movie or something), because he thinks that the idea of doing so as a cool thing even though he gains some weird stares from the passer-bys who aren't too busy to notice.
He consults the print-out of Peter Petrelli's picture Claire got from her dad's campaign website. Yes, there is no doubt that this is Jess Mariano. He looks like Uncle Peter, he has the book, and if those observations aren't good enough for confirmation yet, the fact that Claire already takes her seat beside him should cover it.
While Zach are watching the silent interaction between Claire and Jess (the doppelganger doesn't look like he noticed her yet), he's frowning at the resemblances.
The similarities are uncanny! Zach previously thought that Claire was exaggerating a bit, but now that he has seen the guy with his own eyes, he agrees that Jess Mariano can easily pass as Peter Petrelli's younger brother or even twin.
Could he be really-
Claire's argument comes to his mind now. He recalls questioning her about the name 'Mariano' that awfully doesn't sound like 'Petrelli', and Claire's reply was: "If my name can be Claire Bennet, Zach, then why can't his freaking name be Jess Mariano?"
He has to say that he finally is able to see the validity of her argument. Is it possible that the Petrelli clan is more messed up that I think they are?
By the time Zach looks up, Claire has already been crying. He knows, because her face is screwed up and he recognizes the tight grasps she has around herself. It all must be too much for her.
Zach is having a debate with himself whether he shall abort this heartbreak mission when he sees that Jess finally acknowledging Claire's presence.
The only problem is he looks at her like she is crazy.
"I'm sorry," Zach can hear Claire's voice in between her sobs. "I'm just-"
To Zach's horror, Jess says nothing but merely gets up and leaves.
That jerk-
Zach wastes only a few seconds to hesitate before bolting out of his hiding place.
That's it. Zach clenches his jaw. We're going home.
"Cla-"
But before Zach can realize what the hell has just happened afterward, he senses his entire body being slammed to something hard ( and - ouch! - it hurts! ).
"Hey-"
"Zach!"
He is completely winded. Struggling to catch some air, he curses the pain that quickly soars to the back of his head.
Somewhere near him, Claire shouts frantically. "Jess! Let go of him! JESS!"
Next thing he knows, he is dropped to the ground. Coughing, Zach briefly catches the sight of Claire rushing to him.
"Zach, are you okay?"
The right answer is no, as the view - no, everything - starts to rotate in front of his eyes, but his automatic response mumbles "'m okay". He just cannot be bothered to think of a different answer as he is busy focusing his energy to keep his balance and restore his breath.
"Why did you attack him?" Claire demands.
Jess gives her a shrug. "Just feel like it."
What the hell-
Just like that. He says nothing else. No further explanation, no apology . He just casts Zach one last glare before turning on his heels, walking away.
What is wrong with this guy?
If it is up to him, he will probably attack the prick for some payback, but Zach turns to see the look on Claire's face, and-
"Hey," Zach calls out to the other boy, half surprised and half cursing himself for being such a sucker for Claire. "Know any place where I can clean myself?"
For all he knows, Jess can ignore them - him - all he wants, but he halts nevertheless.
"Sure," Jess says simply. His glare stays, though, and that is why Zach now knows something for sure about Jess Mariano.
This guy clearly doesn't like me.
~ o ~
To tell the truth, Zach doesn't expect Jess to stick around. He half expects the other boy to disappear as soon as he and Claire are out of his sight, but when Zach walks out of the restroom in the cozy diner, there Jess is, sitting on one of the booths, once again with a paperback in his hands. He isn't reading it, however; now he is writing on it.
Zach once again has the ultimate debate with himself. He quickly deduces that Claire hasn't been back from her business in the ladies', and that means he is left to decide how to precede with her - their - subject of investigation all over again.
Fuck it.
He walks up to the booth where Jess at, and then sliding himself to the seat in front of him.
After a few seconds of silence and watching the other boy continuing his scribbling - or vandalizing - act on his book, Zach decided that it is him who has to initiate.
"You read a lot?"
That earns him another glare from Jess.
Zach knows pretty much when to take a cue, and he does. Sighing, he reaches for his headphone and retreats to his iPod. Jess clearly isn't much of a talker, and if he doesn't want to talk, that is perfectly fine by him.
He has just turned his volume up a few notches when he notices a different expression written on Jess' face.
" Should I Stay or Should I Go ?"
For many times of that day, Zach is amazed.
It is like Jess Mariano transforms into a completely different person the moment he hears the English rock band blast coming from Zach's earpiece.
"I know someplace you'd really like," Jess says; the heavy note of excitement in his voice cannot possibly be missed by Zach.
~ o ~
Jess Mariano ( surprise, surprise ) takes them to a small but very resourceful record store. It turns out that he and Jess ( well, who would've guessed? ) share a rather similar taste in music.
The boys are arguing about Sex Pistols and The Ramones when Jess suddenly pops out a question that once again makes Zach taken aback.
"You two are..."
Zach follows Jess' stare. He is looking at Claire.
"Best friends," Zach replies, somehow feeling amused. "And I do mean, just best friends. I'm not exactly a boyfriend material for a girl, if you can catch my drift."
Jess can, apparently. "You're gay?" he confirms. There isn't an appalled tone in his voice; the way he sounds it, it's like he is just asking Zach whether he is a New York native or not.
Zach merely shrugs.
"Whatever floats your boat," Jess says. He flips through some records. "That's why she's so upset?"
"Ha!" Zach cannot help but to snort upon the assumption. "Believe me, it's the least of her problems right now."
Jess says nothing. He just keeps his sight on Claire.
"Look," Zach says, clearly catching Jess' wish to know what's wrong with his best friend, "why don't you just ask her?"
Right on cue, Jess gives him his famous death glare once again. He finally moves though, to Claire's direction.
Zach sighs. He is sure he will get used to the other boy's intense glaring anytime soon.
~ o ~
They go home, eventually.
Zach eyes Claire, who takes the window seat and is casting her look outside. Both of them were unusually quiet at the beginning of the return trip; Zach figures that's because they were equally lost in their own thinking.
To Zach's surprise, Jess has come around. He would never think that the other man was capable of it, but he indeed took him and Claire to the bus station, and even (he still finds it hard to believe that Jess) sent them off. He did it with his own way: he said something to Claire that prompted her to smile (so he should have said something right), and as for him, Jess just briefly said, "Zach." (and he thinks that it was absolutely the sign that meant he warmed up, somehow).
It all just makes him even more curious about the entire content of Jess' conversation with Claire, back at the record store. They spent quite a long time just for a chit-chat.
"Having fun staring at me, Zach?"
Zach is startled, but he quickly grins. Claire's sense of humor is back; it is a good sign.
"Sorry," he tears his gaze off the blonde. "Umm..."
"He's not Peter."
"Huh?"
"Jess. He's not Peter," Claire repeats. "Not even his substitute. Peter, he's all about compassion. About saving everybody . He's the only one that ever makes me feel truly safe, Zach. Even more than my Dad," she pauses, "And you."
Zach doesn't know how he should respond.
For instance, he never thinks that he is seen that way by Claire. Of course, he knows that she considers them as best friends (after all, she has been his, long before both of them dared to admit it), but-
"You're the indestructible one, Claire," he ends up saying.
She snorts. "So?" she demands, for a moment back to her old, popular Claire self.
Zach starts to grin. "So... You're safer than most of us."
That earns him a poke on his arm.
"This has nothing to do with that." Then she adds with an affectionate tone, " Stupid ."
The grin on his smile slowly fades. He was joking around earlier, but the truth is, it means a lot to him that Claire thinks of him that way. "I know," he says quietly.
Claire throws him a smile after that, and Zach pauses.
He is sure that if there is someone who has seen all of the smiles of Claire Bennet, it is him, but the smile that she just threw him is the one he has never seen before. It is something else.
It is a smile that makes him wonder if it is triggered by meeting a certain guy.
Okay, with Peter she feels ubersafe, Zach finds himself thinking . But with Jess?
He looks at Claire again, now really sure that there is something she hasn't told him.
"So," Zach says, attempting to keep the conversation going. Perhaps later in the trip she will decide to tell him. "After this is Ohio?"
"Mm, about that, I think I'll try negotiating with my Dad," Claire says with a flicker in her eyes, "I'm thinking... California."
FIN.